Pressure mounts on hospital disaster response officials during every major hurricane.

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What if you could use all the existing information around you in exponentially more useful ways?

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There's no doubt that global supply chains have maximized efficiency for companies all over the world; however, with talk of a potential trade war looming, even the most mature global supply chain is at risk, with new liabilities presented at every turn, over and above existing challenges of language difference, terrorism, time zones, natural disasters, and cultural barriers.

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A cyber-attack on your company's network impacts not just your online operations anymore, but also your physical operations. Because of this, companies are beginning to restructure their departments in order to merge physical and cyber security as one unified force.

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It's been clear with the most recent breaches that cyber threat intelligence experts need to respond better to security alerts. With this year's increasing ransomware attacks and stricter compliance requirements from the government, an organization's response must be much faster. The natural next step would be to increase staff.

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Robust cybersecurity is critical to most businesses, but few organizations know the importance of secure network defense better than the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Because of DHS's responsibility to protect the U.S., the provision of a staunch defense for its networks and threat intelligence sharing is critical.

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Poor cybersecurity awareness habits in your organization can seem innocent at first, but over time, the vulnerability these habits create can lead to major consequences. It's the reason culture is so important to cybersecurity: to maintain a high standard of alert online behavior to best represent and safeguard the business you are a part of.

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Industry leaders are noticing a clear lack of professional, skilled workers with proper cyber threat intelligence training. According to a Frost & Sullivan report, the global cybersecurity workforce will have more than 1.5 million unfilled positions by 2020. With advancing cyberthreats across the globe, this shortage could prove to be detrimental to organizations of all sizes.

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Corporations and private sector industries focus a lot of attention to intentional cyber-attacks. If the consistent headlines alone don't highlight the reason for this consideration, raw numbers certainly can; per a report from Beazley, ransomware attacks continue to spike, and are up 50 percent in 2017 from this time in 2016.

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The healthcare industry is another example that no one is safe from cyber attacks. According to a 2016 IBM report, 70% of healthcare businesses have fallen victim to ransomware. With the rising costs of breaches and the industry's less-than-stellar ability to assess risk in a timely and efficient manner, the need for advanced cyber threat intelligence solutions is at the forefront for industry leaders.

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For most businesses, cybersecurity awareness means having knowledge about possible threats, viruses, attacks, and breaches. The level of technical capability that will be necessary to ensure data safety in the years to come will far surpass what businesses currently have in place.

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Cybersecurity awareness, threat intelligence, and technological capabilities are all key aspects of secure network defense. This extends from multi-national companies to government-level defense. To some, those are the three core ingredients. Although there is another aspect, and without it, most cybersecurity is rendered pointless: communication and coordination.

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It's often said in the world of cyber threat intelligence: your response directly after a major data breach is as important as your preparation to avoid one. Minimizing damage, correctly identifying the issue as early as possible, and communicating effectively both with your team as well as the general public are sure-fire ways for a company to get on the right path in the early stages of a crisis. Here's a brief synopsis of what went wrong during the recent Equifax breach.

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Every day, we benefit from using innovative consumer technology that evolves at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, the hackers who compromise that technology seem to evolve their techniques just as quickly. Staying one step ahead can be difficult for both corporations and consumers alike. In a world where data moves in unique ways, it can be difficult to spot flaws in systems. That's why cybersecurity awareness should be at the forefront of everyone's mind. And a recent attack on the Avanti Markets is yet another reminder.

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In late March of this year, intelligence became public that laptops on airplanes may be used as weapons of terror. These devices had the potential to be covertly loaded with explosives that officials feared could completely evade traditional means of security and detection. Due to this, the Trump Administration moved to ban laptops from ten airports across eight different countries. The move was an example of thorough threat intelligence sharing and was made in the name of better security.

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Mass casualty events are, unfortunately, something that every healthcare facility must now train and prepare for. No matter the size of your organization, steps can be taken to put yourself in a better position to react and respond to a major occurrence. The range and severity of threats vary by location and many outside factors, but what is consistent is the need for organizational communication and proper communication and preparedness.

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In today's constantly changing cyber environment, industries that face the most threats have found an age old saying to be particularly true

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In no place is disaster preparedness more critical than in our major healthcare facilities. This is even more true in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). For somewhat obvious reasons, the NICU has some very specific disaster readiness concepts. Even more than any other area of a hospital, with the possible exception of the emergency room, the NICU is a place where even the smallest details cannot be overlooked. The fragility of life in the NICU is impossible to overstate. Regardless of disaster type, there are some specific safety and security solutions that are needed to be set in place.

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Employee business travel has grown to be more complex over the years. The amount of coordination that is necessary, and the ways in which employees may face threats when on the move, has made the job of travel risk management more critical. When experts discuss travel risk management, executives often mix the idea of duty of care directly into it as if the two are basically the same. In fact, travel risk management and duty of care are two separate concepts under the overall umbrella of safe employee travel, and understanding the difference between them is important.

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In 2016, the International Data Corporation (IDC) estimated that the financial industry invested $8.6 billion in security solutions, which is more than any other industry. Modern banks are well aware that they are large targets for cyber-attacks and data breaches. The reasons are obvious to all involved; with a wide range of personal customer data on file, as well as financial information, banks must be innovative organizations on the cybersecurity awareness front. This is relatively new ground for many in the financial industry. Banks were initially designed as secure places to physically handle and transfer money; now that very concept must encompass the virtual world.

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Preparing Hospitals for an Influenza Pandemic Influenza has been with us for millennia, but in the modern healthcare system, we still haven't seen a true pandemic. Experts in the field feel like this streak of good luck is bound to come to an end. When it does, those in the field will need to be well prepared with proactive safety and security solutions. The response will be a key marker to how well such an outbreak can be contained, and it will test every single aspect of hospital management and infrastructure.

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Cybersecurity awareness is an important component of any organization's business strategy, but the importance executives are placing on cybersecurity awareness has evolved extensively over the years. What started as a concern of IT professionals has blossomed into a concept that is widely understood and considered vital for business continuity. CEOs and CISOs were some of the first in executive management to embrace the details involved with cybersecurity, but now, that knowledge is working its way even further up the chain of command. More and more, your organization's board will want in-depth briefings on cybersecurity capabilities.

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The healthcare industry is often uniquely at risk to cyber threats for a few reasons: the amount of personal data and information within a network, the great need for that information to be available quickly and consistently (to doctors, nurses, etc.), and the growing number of cyber threats.

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Every modern company, directly and indirectly, will have some attachment and representation in emerging social media platforms. A well-run social media presence can be extremely beneficial, from contacting customers directly to being on the front lines of shaping your image. Pew Research released a study showing 90 percent of adults aged 18-29 use social media; hence, it's a valuable market and battleground for company identity. But there are also drawbacks, and protecting your company's social feeds is a critical job. Cybersecurity awareness must extend to every individual that has access to your systems, and guidelines should be in place to direct employees on proper response and recovery processes.

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Looking around the curve is vital to modern safety and security solutions, especially in the healthcare industry. How far your organization needs to look and what risks it needs to weigh can often be surprising. Such was the case in the southern hemisphere where an incredible outbreak of asthma from a powerful thunderstorm overwhelmed the city of Melbourne's healthcare officials in a matter of hours. Some quick numbers from Australia tell part of the story as to why:

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The healthcare sector is comprised of integrated technological centers that store (usually on-site) an enormous amount of data and information on the millions of patients that come through their doors every year, which makes them high risk for cyber threats.

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Every level of your healthcare organization must be heavily invested in emergency planning and preparedness, but perhaps none more so than those at the top: executive management is vital to both the successful design and, perhaps if necessary, execution of such a plan. This can extend from seemingly remote areas like risk management to infrastructural evacuation plans. Executives must see themselves as integral parts of an overarching concept that strives to make the safest possible environment for both their employees and customers. To become a high-functioning executive in the field of emergency preparedness requires a plan, practice, communication, and, maybe most importantly, knowledge.

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Having an exceptional crisis management team for your healthcare organization is not an overnight process. It takes foundational work, planning, and real-time experience before a group can truly be called elite. But either way, the very creation of such a team is the first critical step in having your healthcare organization in an ideal position to take on any crisis.

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On October 21, multiple companies throughout Europe were hit with what has since come to be considered the largest DDoS attack in history. The coordinated effort, with a still unknown source, has emphasized, yet again, the increasing importance of cybersecurity to corporate business interests. One thing it highlighted even further was the critical nature of information sharing and cyber threat intelligence sources in an increasingly complex online world.

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In life and in business, every potential future event can never be fully seen. But one thing we can certainly do is ensure business continuity in the event of a disaster or technological breakdown. As we enter 2017, it's a good time to take an assessment of your organization's continuity infrastructure and consider the ways it can be improved and adjusted with the New Year. This goes beyond IT, and to the very core of your personnel, culture, and company ideology. Business continuity preparedness is a never ending job and one that constantly evolves.

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Situational awareness is described in the United States Coast Guard training manual as: "the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening to the team with regards to the mission. More simply, it's knowing what is going on around you." In the context of safety and security solutions on land and in the halls and rooms of your healthcare facility, applying this definition of situational awareness to your work is essential to the safety of patients.

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In modern healthcare organizations, a high-quality and well-distributed incident response plan (IRP) is absolutely vital. However, the details of such a plan will vary greatly depending on circumstance and need. Every organization needs to keep a variety of governmental requirements and regulations in mind when creating its IRP, but after that, the distinct conditions and specifications are generally up to you and your team.

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Managing risks in healthcare can be difficult due to a variety of internal and external factors. This infographic from NC4, a leader in healthcare solutions, demonstrates the risks healthcare organizations face and the tools that may benefit them.

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Healthcare is critical in our ever-changing world, and one thing is consistently clear: the ability to provide a fully coordinated trauma response is a gold standard for which hospitals and healthcare facilities strive to achieve.

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Cyber threat intelligence is strongest when it is shared across industries. By combining knowledge and communication around common risks, industries both big and small can better mitigate their vulnerabilities and improve response times to cyber incidents. And although much security focus has been around physical assets (airlines, trains, etc.), one of the most critical industries in the fight against cybercrime is, in fact, banks.

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Risk is inherent to all aspects of healthcare, but the ability to react and respond to reasonably predictable issues is your organization's best safeguard against a multitude of threats. Effective safety and security solutions rely on a comprehensive plan and cooperation between all departments within a healthcare organization.

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As the world deals with the increasing risks and incidents involving cybersecurity, both governments and corporations are increasing their efforts to be prepared. Recently, the European Union (EU) has stepped up its efforts with the creation of a new Cyber Security Commission that will focus exclusively on the issue.

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Managing risk is a complex organizational task at every level. With the continued evolution of risk types and geographical factors, it's critical that every organization has a plan in place that is both defined and fluid. Every company is going to have different types of risks and different vulnerabilities.

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In a complex global marketplace with a myriad of risks and threats, having a strategic plan is vital. Plans work not only as risk mitigation strategies, but as roadmaps when confronting issues in a complex environment. Everything cannot be planned for, but a good plan can be used in almost any situation.

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Safety and security solutions are, obviously, a keystone concept to being confident in the ability of your systems to maintain business continuity. However, as the new century continues to unfold, it's clear that threats from the natural world, and the infrastructural effects that these events could have, will become more of a focusing point in business continuity.

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Healthcare providers must be hyper aware of their surroundings at all times: a misplaced patient file, the incorrect medication, or using the wrong protocol could mean the difference between a patient quickly recovering and a patient in need of longer hospitalization. A focus on situational awareness is ingrained in the DNA of the healthcare community.

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Globalization has opened many markets to faraway countries that were not viable customers for most businesses in the past. To fulfill international obligations, many businesses are now outsourcing the manufacture or assembly of parts to companies halfway around the globe.

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As cyber threats abound, they have evolved from something that happens in another part of the country to a very real threat for anyone who shares information online. Almost everyone has been touched in some manner by a hacker or computer-generated attack that infiltrates a seemingly protected system and steals sensitive data.

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Warehouses are often underappreciated until something interrupts transport from or to in this critical link of the supply chain. At that point, the realization of the importance of this simple "storage area" is recognized. Protecting your warehouse, and all other aspects of your supply chain, demand the critical eye of a risk mitigation program

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When one government agency is alerted of a cyber threat, the first response is typically to solve the problem. Tracking the hacker may seem the next logical step, but the role of communication to other agencies should be a priority.

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Your business may be ready for fluctuations in the availability of raw materials, the ramifications of labor disputes, and the hardship of an economic downturn, but does your risk management awareness include protecting your supply chain from a terrorist attack?

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If your business simply cannot stop for any reason, then you must have comprehensive, precise, real-time situational awareness to keep your continuity of operations and protect your facilities and employees. But, awareness of every threat is simply impossible, a "holy grail" for business continuity. Or is it?

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Through cyber threat analysis and cyber threat intelligence, the Information Security Forum (ISF), an independent not-for-profit organization, has identified five key areas with great risks for information security in 2016.

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Cybersecurity isn't a simple problem that's fixed with a one-time change. Businesses and government organizations dealing with sensitive digital information must develop a far more holistic approach to managing risks, one that includes a number of different operational elements and addresses a wide variety of potential issues.

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Cybersecurity is a constant, overarching concern for a variety of private businesses and government agencies. No matter the specifics, a company must place the right level of emphasis on digital defense if it has valuable information and assets stored on hard drives or in the cloud.

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The U.S. Senate's cybersecurity bill has been noted as a major priority for lawmakers, but the development of the rules found within is causing a pushback by some legislators

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A recent summit on cybersecurity sponsored by the White House and featuring President Obama as a main speaker provided some valuable insights into both the state of affairs and the Obama Administration's stance on the topic. The meeting, held at Stanford University in California, was attended by a variety of business leaders and experts.

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An explosive rail accident in West Virginia led to a tough-to-extinguish fire that has yet to subside days after the incident, which occurred on Feb. 16. A tanker train carrying petroleum in Mount Carbon, West Virginia, exploded violently as it passed through the small town. Reuters said the explosion caused approximately 25 rail cars to leave the tracks.

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A winter storm expected to produce some of the highest snowfall levels on record began to leave a dusting on the ground in New York City, the Tri-State Area and New England on the afternoon of Monday, Jan. 26. The current predictions indicate a steady, unspectacular stream of snow through the rest of the day, with snowfall picking up overnight into Jan. 27 and potentially leaving more than 36 inches of snow on the ground in some areas.

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After a fatal attack at the Paris office of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and associated violent acts that occurred in France during the week of January 5, that country has been in a state of high alert. The shooting at Charlie Hebdo caused twelve deaths, the first of a group of 17 fatalities caused by extremists who fought back against what they viewed as the defiling of their religion.

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An extremist Marxist militant group has taken credit for a suicide bomb attack that occurred on Jan. 7 at an Istanbul police station, resulting in the death of a Turkish police officer.

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Gambia, located on the northwestern coast of Africa and the smallest country on the continent, recently suffered an attempted coup. Anti-government forces tried to take over the capital and assume control of the country in late December, although Gambia's military managed to repel the belligerents and protect the area around the capital city of Banjul, according to Voice of America.

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France has come under a series of attacks in late December, spurring increased military presence throughout major towns and cities as well as statements from Prime Minister Manuel Valls to try to calm the growing fears of French citizens.

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After a multi-year drought, rain is often good news for areas deprived of water. However, residents of some parts of California are less than pleased with the torrential rain and other associated hallmarks of severe weather that have been impacting areas of the state in December. Both coastal and inland areas were hit by a major storm during the first half of the month, with the northern portion of the state taking the brunt of the heaviest rain and winds.

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Although the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been far from a non-violent confrontation, the battles and military actions undertaken so far have taken place almost exclusively around border regions. However, the potential militarization of the Crimean peninsula by Russia may expand the simmering conflict, and both NATO and the U.S. are concerned about escalation, according to Voice of America.

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In the eastern African nation of Kenya, a sense of insecurity along with recent violent acts against the general public have driven recent protests against the current government. The country is experiencing many different events that could impact health and safety as well as travel and business operations.

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Flooding has hit some areas in southern Morocco hard after rainfall at a level much higher than usual for late November led to deaths, injuries and trouble traversing the area. The Associated Press reported that pervasive flooding had caused 32 deaths so far, and there are some people said to be missing as well.

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Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency ahead of a grand jury decision over whether to indict Darren Wilson, a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer, in the shooting death of city resident Michael Brown. The state of emergency has been viewed as a precautionary measure, both by the governor in his executive order calling for increased security and by media outlets.

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In Mexico, protests around the disappearance and apparent murder of a group of students training to become teachers have grown violent in recent days, with the impacts felt in areas across the country. Reuters said the unrest started in the state of Guerrero, located in the southwest area of the country and where the teaching students were abducted.

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A tragic and violent attack on a school in the northeastern Nigerian state of Yobe in early November killed 48 people and injured 79 more, with the majority of casualties being students, teachers and other staff. Reuters reported a suicide bomber dressed as a student of the school, located in the town of Potiskum, detonated the device during a morning assembly where most of the school's employees and students were gathered.

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A series of attacks on civilians in Israel has the residents of that country fearful of more intense violence. Newsweek reported there have been three attacks in the country on citizens during the past three weeks, a violent trend that has led to increased security at some major border crossings and other important areas.

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A fatal mudslide in the Badulla district Sri Lanka has resulted in more than 100 deaths, according to a preliminary estimate from BBC News. The natural disaster occurred on Oct. 29 and was the culmination of weeks of severe, wet weather in that area of the country. The downpours persisted after the mudslide occurred, which hampered rescue efforts, according to BBC News. As nightfall hit the area, local authorities had to suspend search and rescue efforts due to the treacherous conditions.

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The appearance of an as-yet unidentified submarine in coastal waters off of the coast of Stockholm, Sweden's capital, has brought up some Cold War tensions among countries that lie along the edges of the Baltic Sea. The Associated Press reported that the Swedish military is using air, land and sea vehicles, as well as ground troops on the coast, to search for the submarine, which was spotted a handful of times via sonar and other methods during the middle of October.

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There's been some positive news for residents of Nigeria in recent days. The country has been certified by the World Health Organization as being free of Ebola after six weeks had passed with no new infections, the BBC reported.

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Large protests in major cities can present numerous problems and logistical challenges to businesses. Companies holding important meetings or expecting the arrival of traveling executives may need to cancel assemblies or conferences if not planned accordingly.

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September is National Preparedness Month (NPM) and this year's theme is "Be disaster aware, take action to prepare." NPM is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awareness program, and is meant to help promote disaster management among businesses and other organizations.

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With the hurricane season upon us, many businesses are still taking a one-sided approach toward their supply chain risk management plan. According to Procurement Leaders, while natural disasters are increasing the concern around a company's alertness, their single-minded approach could possibly not be enough to handle a disruption in the supply chain.

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During this summer's Ebola virus outbreak that has affected several nations in West Africa, many countries and airlines have implemented travel restrictions to these countries.

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Crisis management plans can prepare businesses for several different scenarios and types of risks that could affect business continuity. However, a growing problem with organizations is the lack of participation from CEOs and company leaders in their crisis management plans.

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Business continuity management (BCM) is always considered a critical operation for corporations, but even though awareness around plans is growing, many are still not completely prepared.

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On April 28, more than 50 tornadoes were reported across Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee in just a 24-hour time period which still has many people in the area on high alert for more storms to come.

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Business environments change at a rapid pace and, for organizations, maintaining an up-to-date enterprise risk management (ERM) strategy could help mitigate risk.

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There's no doubt that global supply chains can maximize efficiency, but at the same time, it can increase risk, Forbes reported. Events in the past such as the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the floods in Thailand, and now recently the quake in Chili have caused a greater concern for how risks can extend to other businesses.

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A new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which recently surveyed 1,940 business executives from 37 countries, found 75 percent of respondents believe the number of risks facing their company is continuing to grow, Business Insurance reported.

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On March 28, southern California experienced two back-to-back earthquakes that ranged from a more mild 3.6 magnitude to a much longer quake hitting 5.1 on the Richter scale, reported The New York Times.

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A proposed cybersecurity bill that could strengthen the bonds between federal regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies and private businesses has moved one step closer to becoming a law.

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The vulnerability of a business can change in a heartbeat, and according to Business News Daily, incidents such as fires, floods, power outages, snowstorms and thefts can threaten business continuity for organizations if they aren't prepared. However, there are ways to stay organized and ready in the event of a crisis.

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While a security team might not find operational risk management the most captivating aspect of their job, it could be the most significant element to organizational security, reported Threatpost.

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In the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, New York City faced exceptional challenges with flooded tunnels, subway lines, streets and power outages stretching across the city.

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The Pacific Northwest is notorious for its beautiful scenery and breathtaking mountain and ocean views. However, with the amazing surroundings comes a large amount of natural disaster threats such as windstorms, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, landslides and volcanoes, reported Oregon Business.

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Natural disasters are always on the mind of those in the south central area of the U.S., and according to new data by the Insurance Information Institute, there's reason to have concern. The report showed that Oklahoma had the highest insurance payouts from natural disasters in 2013, which totaled around $2 billion, reported Government Security News.

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After recent wild fires and a severe drought in Southern California, suburbs near Los Angeles saw more problems after the torrential downpour caused mudslides in Glendora and other neighborhoods, reported CNN.

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The appearance of a major, potentially devastating typhoon off the coast of the Philippines' central region has sent many residents into a flurry

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A pressing need for trained, educated cybersecurity professionals has been highlighted by research and the forward-facing actions of businesses and educators in recent weeks. While many companies attempting to recruit staff members with the skills and experience necessary to protect valuable digital assets have been aware of this problem to varying degrees, a report on the dearth of qualified employees in the field has attracted additional attention.

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